Electrically-actuated, powder-operated rail bonding connector

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an explosively-operated connector for splicing current-carrying rail members. A pair of rails are abutted and the connector is secured thereto. An explosive is disposed within the connector and ignited electrically by a circuit containing a length of wire that develops ignition heat through electrical resistance. The detonation drives a pair of pistons which, in turn, drive a pair of wedge members contained in the connector, so that each of the wedge members secures one of the rails to the connector.

United States Patent (72] Inventor Wllliun F. Broslte Camp Hill. Pa. [2|] Appl. No. 860,897 [22] Filed Sept. 25, i969 Division of Ser. No. 608.781. Jan. I2, 1967. lfet- NP- 4,49 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee AMP Incorporated Harrisburg, PI.

[54] ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED, POWDER- OPERATED RAIL BONDING CONNECTOR 1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl l. till/28R 1 F42b3/l2 [50] FleldolSelreh .i 102/28 EB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,160,097 12/1964 Colburn, Jr. et al. l02/28 (EBW) FOREIGN PATENTS 857,28l l2/l960 Great Britain 7 [02/28 (EBW) Primary Examiner- Verlin R Pendegrass Attorneys-Curtis, Morris and Safford. Marshall Mi Holcom be, William Hintze, William J. Keating, Frederick W. Raring, John R Hopkins, Adrian 1 La Rue, Jay L. Seitchik and Ronald D. Grefe ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to an explosivelyoperated connector for splicing current-carrying rail members. A pair of rails are abutted and the connector is secured thereto. An explosive is disposed within the connector and ignited electrically by a circuit containing a length of wire that develops ignition heat through electrical resistance. The detonation drives a pair of pistons which. in turn, drive a pair of wedge members contained in the connector, so that each of the wedge members secures one of the rails to the connector PATENTED JUL 1 3 l9?! SHEET 3 0F 3 illllllilllllll ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED, POWDER-OPERATED RAIL BONDING CONNECTOR RELATED APPLICATIONS Application, entitled Rail Bonding Connector, was filed Nov. 7, I966, bearing Ser. No. 592,396, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,334, in the name of William F. Broske. This application is a division of application Ser. No. 608,781, filed Jan. [2. I967, and now US. Pat. No. 3,495,778.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the invention The invention relates to the field of electrical and mechanical connectors.

2. Description of the prior art The current method ofjoining rails together consists of bolting them together or welding them together. A fitting is placed over the connector and a nut and bolt tightened to hold the members together. The present invention constitutes a wedge means for securing them together so as to prevent vibration from loosening the connector. Furthermore, the wedges are driven by explosive means for ease of application.

SUMMARY The improvement consists of using a length of pyrophoric material as part of the electrical circuit to cause ignition ofthe explosive. The pyrophoric material is placed in the circuit adjacent the explosive means. By energizing the circuit, the current ignites the pyrophoric material which, in turn, detonates the explosive. This insures ignition and prevents misfires. It reduces the amount of current necessary to ignite the explo sive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded view ofa preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are partially cutaway sections showing crosssectional views of the ignition device within the assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the connector in assembled condition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through plane 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the igniting assembly;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view of the igniting assembly; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the pyrophoric wire.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. a rail member I0, suitable for carrying electricity, has a pair of base flanges I2 and I4. An arcuate depression I6 is fitted between the flanges I2 and 14. The rail member is generally I-shaped, and has a cap 18 running along one surface which is contacted by a brush or collar (not shown which transmits current to a car.

The device for connecting two rail members II] is generally shown in FIG. I. It comprises a C shaped outer shell 20 having side portions 22 and 22' and inwardly directed lips 24 and 24'. The inner surface 26 tapers from a thicker outer end to a thinner section in the medial portion. An opening 28 is provided approximately centrally of the ends ofthe outer shell 20.

A pair of wedge members 30 and 30' fit within the shell (since they are identical, only one will be described). The bottom surface 32 of the wedge member 30 is tapered to match the taper 26 of the shell 20. The upper surface of the wedge member has a detent 34 which matches the depression 16 in the rail member I0. The inner portion of the wedge member 30 is slotted at 36 to form a pair ol'legs 38 and 40.

A firing chamber 42 is generally rectangular with a shoulder 44 extending from one side thereof. The upper surface 46 of the firing chamber is arcuate to correspond to the detent 34 on the wedge member 30. A longitudinal bore 48 extends the length of the firing chamber 42. A second bore 50 is disposed at a right angle to the bore 48 and is located centrally of the shoulder 44.

A pair of pistons 51 and 51' are disposed in the bore 48. A pair of plastic gas seals 52 and 52' are also disposed within the bore adjacent the inner ends of the pistons 51 and SI An explosive charge 54 is located between the gas seals 52 and 52'.

An igniting assembly 56 is secured in the firing chamber. The assembly 56 includes a hollow sleeve 58 having external threads. A nut 60 is threaded onto the outside surface. A bolt 62 having a head 64 is at one end and screw threads 66 are at the other end. A plastic insulating shroud 68 extends over the shank of the bolt, and a flange at one end of the shroud 68 electrically insulates the bolt 62 from the sleeve 58. A nut 70 and lock washer 72 secure the bolt 62 to the assembly 56 (FIG. 7), and an insulating ring 74 electrically insulates the bolt 62 from the sleeve 58.

A length of pyrophoric material 76 is secured to the head 64 of the bolt 62. As shown in FIG. 8, it may be peened into a depression in the head 64. A typical example of suitable material comprises a multistranded wire comprised of palladium and aluminum (one type of suitable material is sold under the trademark "PYROFUZE, by the Pyrofuze Corporation, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.]. Any material that will conduct electricity and give off an exothermic reaction and capable of electrical ignition may be used.

The connector is assembled by locking the explosive materia] 54 within the firing chamber 42 centrally of the opening 48. The gas checks 52 and 52' are placed in either side of the explosive material 54, and the pistons 51 and 51' are inserted into each end of the opening.

The firing chamber 42 is located centrally of the legs 38 and 40 of each of the wedge members. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the assembly 56 is threaded into the shell 20 with the shoulder 44 projecting into the opening 48. The nut 60 is tightened against the shoulder 44 to lock the assembly 56in the shell 20. The pyrophoric material 76 contacts the surface of the firing chamber. A terminal lead T is secured to the lower end of the bolt 68, and also to a source of power B (FIG. 5) which is grounded to the outer shell 20.

A length of rail 10 is inserted into each side of the shell 20 until the ends of the rails abut. One lead from a source of current is applied to the bolt 56 with the other lead attached to the shell 20.

When it is desired to secure the rails I0 together, current is fed into the bolt 68. The current is conducted through the pyrophoric material 72 and is grounded by the shell 20. The resistance of the pyrophoric material causes it to burn and give off a very high degree of heat. The heat ignites the powder charge 54, thus causing it to explode. Energy from the explosion drives the pistons 51 and 51' outwardly. Each of the pistons 51 and 51' drives one of the wedges 30 and 30' outwardly. Each of the wedges secures one of the rails 10 to the shell 20. Ignition of the pyrophoric material breaks the circuit and stops the flow of further current. The extreme pressure and temperature generated by ignition of the pyrophoric material assures ignition of the explosive material at a burning rate sufficient to produce the necessary pressure to accomplish the work.

The operation of the wedges causes a secure connection to be made with a minimum oftime, effort and equipment.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claim when viewed in its proper perspective against the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A detonator assembly for use in igniting an explosive material contained in a cavity of a housing. said housing including a threaded opening communicating with said cavity, said cavity having a surface area opposite said opening consleeve. and elongated exothermic material secured at one end thereof to said bolt head and having its other end free and spaced from said bolt head, whereby full threaded insertion of said hollow sleeve member into said threaded opening causes said free end of said exothermic material to enter said cavity and electrically contact said one surface area. 

1. A detonator assembly for use in igniting an explosive material contained in a cavity of a housing, said housing including a threaded opening communicating with said cavity, said cavity having a surface area opposite said opening constructed of an electrically conductive material, said detonator assembly comprising an exteriorly threaded hollow sleeve member, an electrically conductive bolt having a head at one end and being threaded at the other end, the portion of said bolt intermediate the ends residing within said hollow sleeve member, said threaded end having a nut thereon preventing separation of said bolt and sleeve member, insulator means electrically insulating said bolt and nut from said hollow sleeve, and elongated exothermic material secured at one end thereof to said bolt head and having its other end free and spaced from said bolt head, whereby full threaded insertion of said hollow sleeve member into said threaded opening causes said free end of said exothermic material to enter said cavity and electrically contact said one surface area. 